Do you need to de-stress your holidays?

Celebrating the holidays is an enjoyable practice. Presents, dinners, cookies, guests... all require us to spend time and money. Time management and financially planning for the holidays is an absolute must for almost everyone. Keeping to your holiday budget will not only bring you happiness during the holidays, but also in the months that follow.

Here's some ideas...

Calculate how much you can spend overall for the Holidays, the big picture. Many people have holiday saving funds . Take a look at your own budget and decide on a number and stick to it. The beauty of this holiday spending plan is becomes a summary of all your plans, and will help you make decisions when you are contemplating a purchase or invitation.

Make a list of all the events and presents that are a part of your holiday celebration. Have a time line or calendar.

For example, if you have a Christmas Party each year, you could divide costs into the following categories

1. Decorations and Seating

2. Food and Drink

3. Presents

4. Entertainment and Photos

As you brainstorm each category, list everything then go back and calculate cost and time involved. For time budgeting, make a simple time line beginning when your party starts and work backwards. Make sure to include every little thing into the time line. Along with the time line, keep phone numbers of all the business' you are working with for handy reference.

If you are sending invitations, get them out even before Thanksgiving.  Most people's schedules get real busy at this time of year... so if you want your guests to make it to your party, get them out early.  Include a beginning and end time to your party, it allows people to plan and you, to avoid shooing people out the door.

Decoration planning should be kept simple but impacting. Poinsettias are lovely this time of year, and could become a gift for your guests as they leave. If you are entertaining in your home, perhaps your family tradition holiday decorating will be fine for the party. Seating can be flexable but make sure there is a seat for everyone.

Let's take the Food and Drink area. List out a menu you would like to have, item by item, and calculate the cost. Perhaps that one hor'dourve you love to make is just a little too expensive this year. By having a spending plan and menu for this party, it allows you to buy ingredients ahead of time on sale or when you find just what you are looking for. Make sure to include costs all disposable eating and serving items.

A menu planning must, if you are making food yourself, is to choose as many items that will keep you out of the kitchen during your party. If you are having a catered party, your caterer will appreciate planning the menu with you in the early fall. If your budget tells you that having a large dinner is not possible, have an appetizer party and have all your guest bring their favorite. Don't worry, people really don't mind.

Do the same for Drinks. One way to avoid overspending is to ask your guest to BYO or bring your own drinks. This may seem tacky but it can be a drain on the budget trying to anticipate what to have available for your guests and believe me, they know what they like and how much they drink. Have a bar all set up, making sure to have plenty of bottled water, and some warm drinks available.

Regarding presents, if this is a family or close knit group of people party, it is great to pull names and buy for only one person instead of everyone. Please make sure that you have a spending limit so gift buying doesn't become a competition. Have a present sharing time and watch each other open the gifts. If not, many people will bring hosts' gifts, just remember to send out thanks you notes later.

Entertainment could be as simple as making a mix cd of your favorite Christmas tunes, planning a few games or scavenger hunt, creating a slide show of photos that are viewed on a screen convient for your guests, or something more like a guitarist, or even a magician. And always make sure that sometime in the evening, there is a toast to your guests!

Photos of a party are a must. Usually everyone looks their best, and now it is so easy to share. Ask several people to take photos and share with you. A great decoration at this years party, might be a photo collage of last years party.

Christmas Day and New Years Eve/Day

If you don't have a tradition, it is time to make one. Make sure all your loved ones have plans for these days, and if they don't, invite them into your day.

General Preparations for the holidays.

Taking an inventory of your wardrobe is not a bad idea.

Make all grooming appointments a few months ahead of time to insure a convenient appointment.

Looking forward to the holidays with joy not dread is achievable through a little time and financial management.